Chief of Naval Operations Adm. Gary Roughead recently visited Africa and the Middle East to strengthen maritime partnerships and spend time with sailors in the region.

During his visit to the destroyer Cole, Roughead described the ship as symbol of strength. “Remember the special heritage that this ship has,” he said. “It represents the resiliency of our Navy, and it represents the spirit of our Navy – in ways that other ships simply do not.”

In Djibouti, he toured Camp Lemonnier, telling IAs / GSAs that “this is a different way for us to use our Navy.” The Navy has about 12,000 sailors on the ground.

Roughead also visited troops stationed at United States Military Training Mission in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and the amphibious transpodt dock Mesa Verde. “I believe that there is no more flexible, no more powerful, and no more effective source than the Navy and Marine Corps team,” he said.

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A Navy brat who spent eight years in the Marines (two years aboard the carrier Independence). Worked in journalism in Eastern North Carolina through the latter part of the 90s, then became editor of Air Force Times in 2000. Stayed there five years, then took a break to finish some school. Now back in the game with Navy Times.